Darius Theus scored 10 points, three on a clutch 3-pointer late, in VCU's win Sunday over George Washington.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A huge lead was crumbling right before VCU’s eyes. Their once comfortable margin had been whittled to six. George Washington was pushing the Rams to the ropes. This isn’t exactly the situation in which you’d call on an 18-percent career 3-point shooter.

Don’t tell Darius Theus that. The Rams’ shifty junior point guard stroked a clutch 3-pointer to keep the Colonials at bay with 4:52 left and followed with a conventional three-point play moments later to help spur VCU’s 75-60 win at the Verizon Center in the BB&T Classic.

VCU built a 19-point first half lead when shot a blistering 9-of-15 from 3-point range, but pesky George Washington began chipping away early in the second half. The Rams saw GW pull within 62-56 on back-to-back layups by the Colonials’ Aaron Ware and Lasan Kromah and were desperate for a big play.

On the ensuing sequence, VCU freshman Briante Weber drove the lane. As the defense collapsed, Weber spotted Theus unguarded in the left corner. Theus, who had already hit one triple in the game, buried the wide-open look in front of the Rams’ bench.